Managing Your Digital Footprint: Current Issues in Online Data Collection, Protection, and AI Safety
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

It's been said, "If you aren't paying for a product, you ARE the product." Personal information has never been in higher demand, both for legitimate marketing purposes and for scams. Knowingly or unknowingly, we exchange our personal data for "free" services such as Google search, maps, cloud storage, email, and social media access. And, now access to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are free. While much of the data we share is used for marketing purposes, there are a number of "bad actors" that pose very real personal and financial threats. Knowledge is power. This class will help you learn about consumer data and your digital footprint and we will provide a number of basic, common-sense ways to be empowered to take control of your personal data.